This being a land descended from humble cultures and now shaped by the hands of strong men, good-looking women and above-average children, we don't want to get too caught up in rankings.

That said, way to go Central Minnesota!

Several important national rankings released in July recognized many reasons why this is a great place to live.

Topping the list was the 16th annual Forbes ranking of best small places for business and careers. It ranked St. Cloud at No. 24 out of 184 small cities. The rating is up 31 spots from last year. Forbes cited health care and agriculture as dominant industries, noting in part:

"St. Cloud boasts a historical business district, while remaining within minutes of surrounding lakes and forests. It is home to several higher education facilities. ... The Mississippi River flows through the city, which owns and operates a hydroelectric dam that can produce up to 9 megawatts of electricity. It is also a popular destination for outdoor recreation sports like canoeing."

Sure, canoeing might not be the first outdoor sport local folks name, but we'll take it!

It also was gratifying to get two more pieces of good news last week when St. Cloud State University drew praise from Forbes and Money magazines.

Forbes said St. Cloud State was third among Minnesota schools for affordability, and Money rated its in the top 9 percent of U.S. schools based on quality of education, affordability and outcomes of graduates.

Indeed, between the small cities list and those rankings, it's clear that having plenty of higher education options is a driving force in the quality of life of communities.

Finally, St. Cloud Hospital earned a couple national rankings worth noting. It was designated one of the nation's 100 Great Community Hospitals by Becker's Hospital Review, which considers accolades, quality of care and services provided. And just last week, U.S. News & World Report ranked it the fifth-best hospital statewide, noting high performances in 10 specialties ranging from cardiology to urology.

Again, given residents' tendency to avoid self-promotion, don't expect too much hooting and hollering. Instead — and in keeping with the area's well-established work ethic — it's more likely the party already is over and the focus now is on climbing higher in next year's rankings.